Peperomia plant named &#39;Hope&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Peperomia  cultivar named ‘HOPE’ is disclosed, characterized by unique leaf shape, vigorous growth and good shelf life. The new variety is a  Peperomia,  normally produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Peperomia deppeana×quadrifolia

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘HOPE’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Peperomia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Josephus van der Velden, in Sint-Oedenrode,The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to producenew Peperomia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. Thecross resulting in this new variety was made during February 2007

The seed parent is the unpatented variety referred to as Peperomiadeppeana. The pollen parent is an unnamed variety of Peperomiaquadrifolia, The new variety was discovered in July 2007 by the inventorin a group of seedlings resulting from the February crossing, in acommercial nursery at Sint-Oedenrode, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘HOPE’ by vegetative cuttingswas first performed at a commercial nursery Sint-Oedenrode, TheNetherlands in the Summer of 2008 and has shown that the unique featuresof this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘HOPE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HOPE’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HOPE’ as a new and distinct Peperomia cultivar:

-   1. Unique leaf shape-   2. Vigorous growth-   3. Good shelf life

Parental Comparison

Plants of the new cultivar ‘HOPE’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Peperomia deppeana in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘HOPE’ produce bigger and thickerleaves that are more resistant to physical stress.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘HOPE’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, Peperomia quadrifolia in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘HOPE’ produce thicker leaves ofbrighter green color, as well shorter internodes.

Commercial Comparison

Plants of the new cultivar ‘HOPE’ are best compared to the parentvarieties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘HOPE’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 5 months old from a rootedcutting. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘HOPE’ plants grown in a greenhouse duringspring in Sint-Oedenrode, The Netherlands. The growing temperature wasapproximately 75° F. during the day and 68° F. during the night. Generallight conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types. Plants areapproximately 5 months old from a rooted cutting.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia deppeana×quadrifolia ‘HOPE’-   Propagation:-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 25 days at approximately 20°    C.-   Description of roots: Thin, densely branched, moderately fibrous,    non-fleshy, coloured near RHS 199D to 156D-   Plant:-   Plant spread: Approximately 19.6 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate-   Length of primary stems: Approximately 14.2 cm.-   Quantity of primary stems: About 5.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS 152C, densely dotted and marbled 178B.        -   Texture/pubescence.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Diameter.—Average: 4 mm.        -   Length.—Approximately 14.2 cm (no secondary stems present,            only primary stems).        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 5 months from a rooted    cutting.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite to whorls of four.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 15 per stem.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Broad obovate to near orbicular.        -   Apex.—Rounded to bluntly short acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse to truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, dull.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS 145B Young foliage            under side: Near RHS 154C to 154D, tinged 186D Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS 137B to N137B Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS 146C.        -   Venation.—Type: Laciniate Venation color upper side: Near            RHS 143A Venation color under side: Near RHS 146D.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.2 cm. Texture: Smooth, dull Strength:            Moderate Color: Near RHS 199A to 199B.-   Flower: No flowering observed to date.-   Other characteristics:-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Peperomia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety exhibits standard temperature    tolerance range for Peperomia.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Peperomia plantnamed ‘HOPE’ as herein illustrated and described.